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He braked but still hit the girl at more than 50mph, sending her up into the air and landing ten metres away.

The child - a promising young gymnast - was left with a sickening catalogue of injuries, including two skull fractures, a bleed on the brain, a bruised lung, lacerated spleen, and a broken pelvis and thigh bone.

Incredibly, the brave youngster is on the road to recovery but may not be able to compete again because of the horror incident.

Reckless Polat - who this week also admitted smuggling a illegal mobile phone while on remand in prison - has now been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw told Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court how the young road victim was at the crossing with two friends. She stepped out into the road when the green man activated and saw the car so tried to make it across the road.

Mr Blackshaw said: “The girl tried to make a run for the pavement. Sadly she is not quite lucky enough. She is projected through the air and as result suffers very serious life threatening injuries.”